Non-heme iron coordination complexes for alkane oxidation using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as powerful oxidant

Nature has the unique ability to catalyze selective activation of ubiquitous C-H/C = C bonds under ambient conditions. It can do it in a very simple and elegant way. The last two decades witnessed a tremendous development towards synthesis of biomimetics of oxygenase enzymes. However, among transition metals, iron chemistry dominates due to its easy availability and non-toxicity in nature. Hydrogen peroxide emerges as the best oxidant as a greener approach. In this contribution, non-heme, iron-catalyzed alkane oxidation with emphasis on selectivity by introducing steric, chiral substituents on ligand architecture with hydrogen peroxide as oxygen source are summarized. Experimental findings of catalytically active species during catalytic turnover and mechanism of the reaction are depicted.